550QE or 580

[wendy w.]

South Normanton is only a stone's throw away from me here in Belper. Next time I pass I'll give it a wave for you.

It's interesting hearing the low down on the feet and I watched a video, I'll see how I get on wth the 1/4 " with guide foot at the moment. I learn't on here to use an extra bit of fabric to prevent it disappearing down the hole. Clever man to have got round that one.

[Renata L.]

Heather, thank you for taking the time to go into detail about the presser foot #97. The construction of the foot, as you described it, makes it appealing to me, and I suppose it would also be quite convenient when you have an endless number of long strips to piece and it is easy to get distracted simply by the nature of the task. It appears #97 could keep you on track despite yourself... :blink:

[Nancy R.]

Oh, Wendy! She's beautiful! And she looks so happy in her new home!!! Looks like she's working on a beautiful quilt that I look forward to seeing when she's done.

Have fun!!

[wendy w.]

Thank you Nancy. I've 10 hrs at work today then my quilting group monthly meeting so not much play today but will bore folk all day, it'll make a change from them going glazey eyed hearing about my girls

[wendy w.]

Pamela did you get your machine recently?

[Heather H.]

Hello Wendy, I have heard of Belper, but will have to look up where it is. I looked up our family home on Google Earth that was built in the early 1950's and it looks exactly the same as it did when I was a child. The only difference, unfortunately is all the fields have now been replaced with housing and worse still, what look like transport depos. I have very fond memories of my early childhood playing in the fields and woods, picking blue bells and selecting conkers. My maiden name was Dobson and my father used to paint the posters for the Odeon Cinema in Alfreton, advertising the latest movie as one of his jobs. I suppose the building is probably not there any longer. I know that Alfreton baths have gone. (This dates me, I know!)
I am sorry, I thought that it was Anne who I was talking to in the UK in a previous post........I always assume I am talking to the US. I forget that this a worldwide forum!
Don't forget if you turn your new machine on and it is making a noise, you will have knocked the bobbin winder to the 'on' position. Since working for Bernina I would get at least one call weekly with ladies in a panic over this, thinking that something has broken. Just move it across to the 'off' position and all will be good.
Please read your manual, oil and clean regularly and change your needle after NO MORE than 8 hours sewing time. Do these things and your machine will love you for it. Needles and oil are cheap. Don't think that this is obvious, you would be surprised what I have seen that comes into the shop! I have seen machines in all states of neglect and I am constantly shocked.
All the best,
Heather

[Rita C.]

Wendy, Ingrid (why Ingrid? the curious want to know) is beautiful. I am green with envy. Please keep up the information and questions because I am avidly reading them all as I am poised to make a change myself. This might just tip me over the edge. :silly: Do Bernina provide any kind of demos/classes/training days in the UK? I hear about this all the time in the US but there would not be the slightest possibility of that here in Ireland. You buy a machine without any demonstrations and it's good luck to you! Renata and Heather your contributions are so much appreciated and I am sure they will take the fear out of it for Wendy. Health to enjoy your new sewing machine Wendy, and for a long time to come. :cheer:

[ANNE E.]

Rita, If you buy a Bernina there is a Bernina Tuition centre in London but you have to book a place as there are only 8 places at a time. I don't know if there are any in Ireland. e.mail them if you wanted to find out more.
Love your frosty photo's. The sun is shining here so I may go out and tidy the garden a bit........or maybe I'll stay in my sewing room.
Anne

[Lois B.]

Rita's mentioning that she is thinking of making a change soon perked up my ears because we are working on the same machine much of the time. Yesterday I nearly lost my religion :evil: trying to sew a straight seam while piecing blocks. Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt starts tomorrow and I am thinking of Charae's advice about working with complicated tools. Don't sit near a window because you might just throw it out. :angry: Anyway, the last time I was this frustrated about piecing I bought Janome's Horizon with it's ability to convert to a single hole throat plate with the push of a button. They forgot or ignored the fact that the feed dogs are designed to accommodate all the fancy embroidery stitches and really don't help a lot with precise piecing. Anyway, the last thing a want/need is another machine but I am tempted to look at the Janome 1600P (I think that's right). It's a straight stitch only machine, it has needle down, a knee lift, needle threader, thread cutter and it's extremely fast with a slide to control speed if you want to go slow. There's 9" space between the needle and main body of the machine. Does anyone know about this machine. I am remembering sage advice I recieved often and have so much trouble putting into practice. "Keep it simple, stupid!"

[Pamela N.]

Hi Wendy, I got my machine about 18 months ago and I am still in love with it The first time that I had to 'oil' it I was in a cold sweat, but sure enough I followed a DVD on You tube and it was easy, I'm now a wee bit obsessive about cleaning it. I've bought lots of accessories/feet for my machine, but the most useful for me are the magnifying lenses. I recently bought the straight stitch throat plate (I think that's what it's called) and it really does make a difference for straight seams. But.. I can't seem to get used to the BSR it seems to jump stitches when I start/pause, but I feel that I should be using it rather than the FMQ foot. I've found out most of what I need to know on You Tube or sewing and I know that you will have many happy hours sewing as Bernina are just lovely solid reliable machines.
Best Wishes Pam

[wendy w.]

Thank you for the advice Heather. I've already done the bobbin winder thing.

Rita she's called Ingrid from Inspector Monalbano. My bike is Livia, Simons is Salvo and now Ingrid. Ingrid is listed as a Swiss baby name meaning beautiful, which of course she is B)

Yes Anne's right you can take a class in London which I might do. Come over to FOQ again and try some there, would be lovely to see you again and Lois can pop on a plane as well. How good would that be? Do you really only want a straight stitch machine or are you trying to be like Heather with a machine for every reason. You must have a lot of room!

I'm going to try the BSR tomorrow so I'll let you know Pam and thanks for the tips about the videos. The thing about this machine is that it has so many ways of adjusting different aspects of your stitches and the machine stitches perfectly so I can't adjust anything!! Can't believe I'm complaining.

A whole day off to myself tomorrow, blow the housework I've got some serious playing to do. I've cracked the needle threader now which I couldn't get to work yesterday. This is going to take a long time. :lol:

[Heather H.]

Wendy, I am not sure if you have ever looked on' Heirloom Creations', but there are some great You Tube videos on there to watch about all brands of machines and their feet. Sorry if everyone already knows about this, I am relatively new to this site.

By the way, I don't have much room left for all my machines now, my walls are closing in on me, not only with machines but fabric and thread collections...........................at least these addictions don't harm anyone..........................all good fun!!!!!

I am not sure if you are aware, the little cabinet that came with your machine can be customized for the feet that you have. The little grey pull out shelves can be removed and replaced with different shaped ones to hold uncoded, coded (C feet) or dual feed (D feet). For the 560 you will only use uncoded or 'C' feet. Series 7 and 8 machines use the 'D' feet. The little shelves are inexpensive and can be purchased from your local dealer.

Hope you are still having fun.
Heather

[Norma H.]

Wendy, congratulations on your new machine. It's beautiful and I send you a "Bernina smile" also. You are going to love it.
There are a lot of You Tube videos where you can learn about your machine. Just search for your model.

I just got the 97D foot for my 830 and have sewn 11 seams with it this morning. I'm convinced. There is no slipping at the ends of the seams. I have a feeling that this will be my favorite foot from now.

[Janet K.]

Sarah, I got my 97D Wednesday and am dying to try it!

Twiglet, you might be interest in the BERNINA 5 yahoo group, I have learned so much about my 830 from the 8 series groups on yahoo.

[Janet K.]

Silly iPad, I meant to address the reply to Zarah. Janet